Tagged: Pipeline Fellowship

Peruse the staff profiles of a typical venture capital firm and you’ll likely find a sea of white men stretching for miles in every direction. According to a 2014 report from the Center for Venture Research, 26% of U.S. angel investors are women and 8% are people of color. These numbers left Natalia Oberti Noguera, a Yale grad with degrees in Comparative Literature and Economics, grossly unsatisfied. In this real-life episode of Shark Tank, where were the women sharks?

In 2011, Oberti Noguera set out to change those numbers. Through the Pipeline Fellowship, she and her team aim to “increase the diversity in the U.S. angel investing community and create capital for women social entrepreneurs.” The organization currently operates out of 24 major cities across the country.

From now until June 15th, the Fellowship is accepting applications for their Fall 2015 cohort. There are three criteria for consideration. Applicants must:

meet the U.S. government’s definition of accredited investor, i.e., earning US$200K in income or US$300K joint income with spouse for the past two years, or US$1M net worth

Got an idea that you believe deserves funding? If you fit the criteria, take the plunge and sign up to pitch at an upcoming summit. Want to dip a toe instead? Keep an eye on Pipeline Fellowship’s calendar and attend an event near you. Finally, make sure to follow Natalia on Twitter; she regularly shares outstanding insights that stretch well beyond the realm of finance.